Tripura TET Case Hangs in Balance in Supreme Court, Next Hearing After 3 Weeks! What is the Future for Teachers?

Tripura TET Case: A crucial hearing regarding the Tripura TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) case was held today in the Supreme Court. This case, titled State of Tripura vs. Sajal Deb, could determine the future of thousands of teachers in the state. Justice Dipankar Datta’s bench made some significant observations during today’s hearing and outlined the future course of action, sparking widespread interest.

Background of the Case

The case primarily involves teachers appointed under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) between September 3, 2001, and 2011, who were recruited based on the then-existing recruitment rules. These teachers have been serving for over a decade.

• The TET Condition: In 2021, passing the TET was made a mandatory condition for the extension of their services.
• Government’s Move to Terminate: As these teachers were not TET-qualified, the Tripura government decided to terminate their employment.
• Legal Battle: While a single bench initially ruled in favour of the government, a division bench stayed the termination and preserved the teachers’ jobs.
• Government Appeals to SC: The Tripura government challenged the division bench’s verdict in the Supreme Court, insisting that TET qualification should be mandatory for all teachers.

Detailed Update on Today’s Hearing

The case was heard today in the bench of Justice Dipankar Datta. At the outset, the Justice highlighted a key issue that plays a critical role in the case’s outcome.

Dependency on the Review Petition

Justice Datta pointed out that a main “Review Petition” concerning the same issue is still pending in the Supreme Court. He questioned the rationale of proceeding with this case before the review petition is decided. According to his observation, a final verdict in this matter is difficult until the review petition’s outcome is known. Consequently, despite getting relief from the division bench, the teachers could not get a clean chit from the Supreme Court today.

Other Important Aspects

During the hearing, the lawyers informed the court that three of the petitioners in this case have already passed away. This humanitarian aspect was also presented before the court.

What Lies Ahead for the Case?

The court has scheduled the next hearing for this case after three weeks.

• The Justice opined that if the verdict on the main review petition is delivered within these three weeks, this case will also find a resolution.
• If not, Justice Dipankar Datta’s bench will reconsider the matter after three weeks and decide on the next steps.

According to observers, there is some anxiety among the teachers as a similar case from Uttar Pradesh was recently dismissed. However, that dismissal was on grounds of delay (Condonation of Delay) and not on merit. The current legal atmosphere suggests that the law is moving towards making TET mandatory for primary teachers. All eyes are now on the court to see what the future holds for these teachers after three weeks.